As I predicted below, Hub Baker says his comments to NBC 5 concerning Queer LiberAction’s upcoming kiss-in at the Stockyards on Saturday are being taken out of context. Baker, the longtime executive director of the Fort Worth Stockyards Championship Rodeo, says he wasn’t advocating violence against anyone when he suggested that “maybe they [the QL demonstrators] need to get a good whipping.”
“I was talking about cowboys and the way they raise their kids,” Baker told me this morning. “I was saying that if a child steps out of line, we give them a whipping. I wasn’t talking about whipping anybody who is gay or lesbian or anything like that. It wasn’t meant that way, because everybody’s welcome in the Fort Worth Stockyards.”
Baker said although he’s concerned that the Kiss-In is intended merely to stir up trouble, he doesn’t really have a problem with people kissing in public — gay or straight — as long as it doesn’t become lewd.
“Manners are manners, man, whether you’re a cowboy or gay or lesbian or a Republican or a Democrat,” he said. “That’s not public stuff anyhow as far as I’m concerned. I kiss my wife at home. I just happen to be a straight dude and like women.”
Interesting that he changed his tune. I recieved this comment on a blog regarding his comment.
“I would give anything to round up these troublemaking homers, take them to a private room where no one can hear them, then make them strip naked and tie them up. I would then get a freshly oiled whip and start whipping them across their backs until welts form and blood slowly oozes. I would make them orally declare me (and Jesus) their masters.”
I am sorry, Mr. Baker, but you cannot “take back” your statement. If any violence occurs sir, it will be on your head.
I agree that the Kiss-in will stir up trouble but why is that? Is it because we still live in a society where same-sex affection is still considered shocking and disgusting? Any form of PDA (gay or straight) is tacky in my book but it’s not my place to tell you to stop what they are doing. Good luck to QL and my leather crop is at you disposal anytime 🙂
“taken out of context” where have we heard this before? Oh it was Chief Halstead now I remember.
I am gay and proud but I feel this “kiss in ” has no other intention but to stir up trouble I kiss my significant others in many so called” str8″ places and have never had any backlash,done it at … walmart ,restaurants, hell even billy bobs!! so I have no issue regarding being treated differently thnt mr str8 guy kissing his girl!! my opinion and please dont tear me apart cause im not a sheep
Blake got on TV. So, it “worked.”
Brian, you are a complete and total MORON!
When was the last time you saw a news story about heterosexuals kissing at the stockyards? NEVER! When was the last time you heard Hub advocate violence (whipping) for people that kiss in public? NEVER! Because of this unequal treatment of GLBT folks I support this PDA until it becomes a non-issue and GLBT folks are welcome to express love for their loved ones in public.
GO QL!! wish I could be there smoochin on you hot boys! I must admit, at first I was turned off but after seeing the press and hipe, Im very curious to see where this will take us. If people are talking about it already, then I think we hit a nerve!!!
GO US!!! Thanks Blake!
Blake understand the very simple principle that we need to offend people to get them to support us. Why is that so hard for some of you? This is something we can all do and it’s very effective. Equal rights demand that we take action.
Most of you people out there don’t know Mr. Baker so when someone takes the words that he says and arranges them how ever they like so that it appears that Mr. Baker is against gays, then it seems sad that people like your selves who believe anything they read without really getting the true story are really sad mislead people. There is always two sides to every story and you guys have only been given the part of Mr. Bakers side that makes him out to be a bad guy which he is not at all. The only reason the QL decided to do this public display is to see how many people they could make look bad by rearranging their words and comments. They wanted to upset people and it worked, no one in the Stockyards is against gays in any way we welcome everyone, but being such a open family environment with 100’s of kids around we do try and keep the public displays of affection to a minim. It has nothing to do with anyone being gay or straight it’s just good manners Everyone should try and have some. The QL would never go to a public school and do a kiss-in, so why would they do one in a place that is packed with kids taking a vacation with their families, or with school kids on a field trip. There was no reason for this kiss-in besides to stir up trouble in a already messed up world. People should try to express their feelings in a batter way that isn’t out in public, not when it’s just to cause trouble. If your a man who loves a man or a women who loves a women, or a man who loves a women then as long as your happy with the person your with that’s all that matters, not what other people think of you. Everyone should be happy no matter who you send your life with. And people who only read what is written in the papers or magazines should remember that they print what they want to not always what was really said.
Dron, while I can appreciate that words can be taken out of context, there are times when words are simply inappropriate. This is the case with Mr. Baker. It was inappropriate to even use the word whipping. We did not plan the kiss in to “stir up trouble”, but rather to highlight how homophobic Ft. Worth is. QL’s assumption that the Stockyards is a homophobic atmosphere is appropriate. On another note, what is wrong with a peck on the cheek from one man to another man that is observed by a child? No, we would not do a kiss in in a public school, but we would do it in an appropriate venue…outside of a rodeo, a bus station, the airport, in front of a church. We should all be considered equal in the eyes of society AND THE LAW, so what is the harm? I would very much like the opprotunity to speak with Mr. Baker, and have been having difficulty getting his contact info. Any assistance you could give would be most appreciated!